GRAND ORIENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The Grand Orient of the United States promotes education of any topic that pertains to its key principles and values, which include but are not limited to Masonic history and symbolism, the Age of Enlightenment, science, natural philosophy, ethics, secular humanism, the environment, logic, and mathematics.
Above all, the Grand Orient of the United States defends the principle of total freedom of conscience in matters of religion and spirituality. This implies freedom of the mind and liberation in regard to all dogmas; the right to believe or not to believe in the existence of God, a Supreme Being, or any form of deity; and autonomy of thought concerning religious, political, and economical constraints.
Moreover, as a secular Masonic order, the Grand Orient of the United States does not require its members to subscribe to any religious, theological, metaphysical, or political ideologies and dogma; nor shall any lodge in the Grand Orient specifically align itself to or operate in accordance to any of these ideologies or dogmas.
About the Grand Orient of the United States
What is today the Grand Orient of the United States of America began on December 27th, 2005. Several lodges declared their independence from the Anglo-American Masonic system and formed a confederation of sovereign lodges under the banner of "United Grand Lodge of America". In so doing, they sought to restore the original Free-Masonry practiced by the founding fathers to the American continent, and return to the traditional Enlightenment and cosmopolitan ideals expressed in the earlier Masonic lodges. This event allowed the original streams of Masonic thought still existing in Europe to once again flow freely into American lodges.
In November of 2007, several more lodges declared their independence from the Anglo-American Masonic system and the Council of the Order was convened to formalize our relationship with our brethren in France and throughout Europe. The Council voted unanimously to change the name of the United Grand Lodge of America to the Grand Orient of the United States of America to better, and more precisely, identify it with the existing currents of 'Modern' Free-Masonry throughout the world.
On June 27th, 2008 the Grand Orients of France and the United States signed a Treaty of Amity fully recognizing one another as sovereign Masonic powers. Since that time the two Grand Orients have worked closely together to further the cause of human rights around the globe.
The Grand Orient of France is the oldest continuously operating Grand Lodge in the world. It was created in 1728 by brothers from the original Grand Lodge of England (now defunct) that had been established in London in 1717. Benjamin Franklin worked closely with both of these Grand bodies and served as Grand Master of the original Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (now defunct) and as Worshipful Master of the Lodge of the Nine Muses under the Grand Orient of France.
The original secular and cosmopolitan form of Free-Masonry that began in London and Paris has been the victim of much misinformation, especially in the United States, where there exists a religiously oriented version of the fraternity that was started in 1755. Thus, many Americans have been led believe that a person must be religious in order to become a Free-Mason. This is not true.
The Grand Orient of the United States of America is a masculine Masonic fraternity that works together with mixed-gender and female Masonic organizations throughout the United States and Europe. Together, these systems represent the most progressive form of Free-Masonry in America where all people regardless of race, creed, or gender can meet together as equals.
Our aim is the brotherhood of all humanity through a universal chain of union extending around the globe. If you are already with us in spirit then you are welcome to join with us in Masonic lodges throughout the world.
WELCOME TO TRADITONS LODGE
Traditions Lodge (Triangle) is a progressive Masonic Lodge in the Valley of Palm Coast (Orient of Florida), operating under sponsorship of Sirius Lodge and the authority of the Grand Orient of the United States of America. Besides Masonic knowledge, we are interested in improvement of the human condition through the preservation and improvement of human rights as well as the promotion of ecological sustainability.
Through intellectual, spiritual and social advancement, our cosmopolitan brotherhood of Free-Masons discuss and help solve many of the issues facing our society today. In order to attain these goals, our order has established the following guiding principles for Free-Masonry:
We believe in the freedom of conscience of all people, and that it is an essential component of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
We believe in and support the separation of religion and government, and promote religious and spiritual tolerance among all people.
We believe in and support the freedom of the press as a necessary component of maintaining the inalienable rights of all human beings, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We believe in and support the need for higher education and life-long learning.
We believe in and support an impartial judiciary system as essential to guaranteeing the preservation of human rights.
We believe in and support the arts and sciences as essential elements in the progress and evolution of humanity.
We believe in and support efforts that work towards global environmental and ecological sustainability as essential to the survival of the human species.
The members of the Masonic fraternity were at the forefront of the European Enlightenment and have continued their pursuit of knowledge and understanding down to the present day. Our interests range from the latest theories in Quantum Mechanics to social and economic development in third world nations.
Traditions Lodge offers a form of the original Free-Masonry (French Modern Rite, for more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Rite) that was practiced in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. This time period marked the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment, ushering in a period where science and reason began to overcome superstition and fear. Early Free-Masons were intimately involved with this intellectual movement and the Free-Masonry that evolved from it was one of the building blocks of modern democracies.
